Complaints Probed At Nursing Home

Blumenthal Says Allegations Concern Patient Abuse, Neglect

MANCHESTER — Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Wednesday that he and other agencies are investigating allegations of patient abuse and neglect at the Westside Care Center nursing home.

``There have been a number of complaints, some very troubling, about abuse and neglect at the nursing home,'' he said.

Blumenthal said he couldn't go into details about who else is investigating the home or about the allegations.

``The specific incidents involve a variety of circumstances, but I can't discuss the particular allegations because they are part of the investigation,'' he said.

The nursing home, also known as West Side Multi Care Center, is at 349 Bidwell St. and is managed by iCare Management LLC of Hartford.

Blumenthal did not name the complainants. But Kevin Brady of Florida, a close friend of a patient, has numerous complaints about the facility.

Brady said the nursing home is short-staffed and ``filthy.'' He said his friend has had to clean up another patient's waste because no one else would.

He alleged that at least one patient was given the wrong medication and was also diagnosed at Hartford Hospital with malnutrition and dehydration. He said there was an outbreak of a serious skin infection, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, at the home in January.

``They wouldn't let you get away with treating a dog like this,'' he said. ``How can you do this to a human being and get away with it?''

Brady also alleged that crimes, including drug dealing and theft, have taken place at the nursing home. But Manchester police spokesmen said Wednesday that they were not aware of any open investigations at the home.

She said the facility is not filthy and in fact is undergoing major renovations. She said that staffing is ``way above the state minimum'' and that there has been no methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus outbreak.

She also said she knew of no crime problems.

``If there was drug dealing, I would think the police would be involved,'' she said.